A 14-year-old boy who was fatally shot in south-east London has been formally identified by authorities as Eghosa Ogbebor. The tragic incident occurred on Lord Warwick Street in Woolwich at approximately 3.40pm on Thursday, prompting a swift police response.
Three Arrests Made in Connection with the Shooting
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Metropolitan Police have taken three individuals into custody on suspicion of murder. Those arrested include two boys, aged 14 and 16, and an 18-year-old man. All are currently being questioned as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Eghosa's death.
Eyewitness Account Describes Chaotic Scene
Sofia Pereira, a 33-year-old employee at The Greyhound pub located near the scene, provided a harrowing account of the events. She reported hearing a loud "bang" or "boom", which she initially thought was someone falling onto a bin on the pub's patio. "I just heard like a big 'bang', like a big, strong 'boom', which was obviously one of the kids, I think, jumping on the wall, through the bin, and then obviously the bin fell and broke, then he just run off," Ms Pereira recounted.
She added that approximately ten customers who were outside on the patio at the time rushed indoors in a state of panic upon hearing gunshots and witnessing one individual allegedly armed with a machete. "Everyone got scared because they heard shooting and they could see one of the guys had a machete, or something like that. So everyone just ran inside, said 'lock, lock all the doors and everything', because obviously we didn't know what was going on," she explained. The atmosphere inside the pub was described as "very overwhelming" following the chaos.
Police Response and Community Impact
On Friday, the area around Lord Warwick Street remained cordoned off, with a significant police presence including forensic officers conducting searches on a patch of grass along the street. A tribute of flowers was laid at the end of the street in memory of the victim.
Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card of the Metropolitan Police expressed condolences, stating, "Our thoughts remain with Eghosa's family and loved ones. They are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy at this difficult time." She acknowledged the concern within the Woolwich community, particularly given the young age of the victim, and confirmed an increased police presence in the area to reassure residents.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan also commented on the incident, saying, "My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Woolwich following the appalling fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy. There is absolutely no place for this heartbreaking violence." He noted that he is in close contact with the Met Police, who are working diligently on the case, and assured that arrests have been made and an investigation is underway.
The police initially described the victim as a man in an earlier press release but later corrected this to confirm he was 14-year-old Eghosa Ogbebor. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward to assist with the investigation.
